The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-05-29
THE COMPETING MILITIAMEN
indianapolis Light Artillery Surfeited
with Courtesies and Attentions.
Competit re Drills Yesterday by the Infantry
Companies-Characteris of General
Sheridan-0ther Washington News.
TIE NATIONAL DRILL.
A surfsit of Courtesies and Attsntions-Yes-
terday's Competitive Drills.


A surfeit of Courtesies and Attentions-Yes-
terday's Competitive Drills.
WASHINGTON, May Is. - The Indianapolis
Light Artillery. officers and men, fairly complain
OF the attentions and ovations that have been
showered on them by natives of Indiana resd-
ing in Washington. As instance of
the care and watchfulnoss OF their
people here, il may be mentioned
that at the conclusion of their arduous artillery
drill, yesterday, Col. Dick Bright, OF Indiana,
ex-Sergeantat-arms OF the Senate was prompt
" on hand at headquarters with bountiful
supply of soothing stimulants, needed refresh
rnents and sedativs cigars for the tired artillery
men.
Indiana will get at least one prize-that for
the artillery competition--and the indianapolis
Light Infantry boys not without hopes OF
getting place in the prize-takers for their drill
Of yesterday. To-day the Fort Wayne Rifles
1.-THE Kids" as they call themselves, having
been only organized eighteen months ago-had
chance to distinguish themselves, but failed
signaly. Their commander put them through
the drill before taking them the grounds, but
appeared to have some difficulty in understand
ing the programme himself. so it is scarcely to be
wondered at that his men failed to make better
record than they did. In the manual of arms the
Fort Wayne boys did fairly we'll. but. as might be
expected from such young organization, they
had not the precision TO entitle them to a place.
Their volley firing was ragged aat their wheels
only passably good In marching they were up
to the average, but two three bad individual
errors in other portions of the drill will 60 sadly
against thems A party Of the Indianapolis
Light Infantry went down to Norfolk to-day,
the others remaining in the city and taking in
the sights.
The infantry companies competing to-day
were the following: Company B, First Virginia;
Nealy Rifles, of Maine; National Rifles. of this
city; Company d. First Minnesota; Company A,
Fifth Rhode Island; Company 1, Second Michi-
gan; Bullene Guards, Of Kansas City; Wooster
City GUARDS, of Ohio, and Fort Wayne Rifles, of
Indiana
The Virginia company made only an average
record, and that of the Maine company, owing
to several conspicuous blunders. fell somewhat
below the average
Tho Washington company came on at IL
o'clock, and caused the first ripple of enthusiasm
among the spectators Their performances. a
whole. has probably pushed them well up ward
the front line of the competitors
The Michigan company made q good appear
ance, and fair but not brilliant record.
The Bullene Guards performance faulty
in many respects. and their record will probably
not pass much above the medium line A brisk
little shower dampened the spirits Of the specta-
tors and the clothing of the men.
The Wooster City Guards had many features
OF conspicuous merit in their work at the man
ual. and few rather serious faults in their
marching. AS whole they made a
&ery good record. They filed TO the
rear, to the right about
and again to the front as one man, the CLINT of
the sunshine their helmets betraying not
the slightest wavering In fixing and unfxing
bayonets there were two three delinquents,
~exceeurhgly- gooi, whiie in firing by
fle, kneeling, lying down and rising
they were second to In movements
by company front and in volley firing they kept
up their excellent records, but they made one
glazing failure. They lost step and line in an
advance at double quick, halted and. without
dressing. knelt for firing. sadly out of line With
this single exception, their record is almost IN
exceptionable
The Rhode Islanders performance above
the medium line. but will probably not bring
them within reach of a prize.
This brought the infantry competition to
end, the Fort Wayne company failing to appear.
The cadet drill. which began at o'clock, was
performed by the Peekskil IN. W, St. John
Academy (Va.), Bethel Academy IVA, Mary
land Agriculture College, Cayuga Lake IN. W,
Michigan Military Academy and Wash
ington Hish-school boys. These youth
of detailed officers of the regular army, and their
manenvers and manual practice, though hardly
up TO the standard set by the militiamen be-
tokened zeal and degree Of intelligence and
appreciation of soldierly duties which was a sur
prise to the spectators.